Mayo man to present at Dáil meeting on returning Irish emigrants

An all-party meeting convened today at 1pm in the AV room at Leinster House to discuss the mounting challenges facing Irish citizens returning home after years abroad, a demographic that has grown substantially in recent years yet remains largely overlooked by government structures.

All members of the Oireachtas have been invited to attend the meeting. 

The meeting comes as advocacy groups highlight a significant gap in state support for an estimated 150,000 Irish emigrants who have returned to Ireland over the past five years, many accompanied by foreign-born spouses and children.

Advocates presenting at the meeting, including Louisburgh man Ciaran Staunton and Karen McHugh from Safehome Ireland based in Mulranny, will emphasise that no dedicated government agency, ministry office, or Oireachtas committee currently exists to address the specific needs of returning Irish citizens.

Furthermore, no political party represented in the Oireachtas has formally prioritized the wellbeing of these 150,000 citizens or their families in their policy platforms.

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The meeting outlined numerous obstacles facing returning emigrants:

Driver's License Exchanges: While progress has been made following eight years of lobbying efforts, Ireland has only begun processing license exchanges with New York State. This lags significantly behind European counterparts such as France and Germany, which accept licenses from 26 U.S. states, despite Ireland adhering to the same European driving standards.

Administrative Bottlenecks: Advocates renewed their call for a "one-stop shop" where returning families could process applications for PPS numbers and other essential services. This proposal, first raised at an Oireachtas hearing in 2016, was previously dismissed by officials as unfeasible.

Children's Allowance Delays: Recent cases show processing times stretching to 18 weeks, with one returning mother recently told to expect an eight-week wait that ultimately extended to ten weeks and counting.

Third-Level Education Fees: Children of returning emigrants face higher fees than their Irish-raised counterparts, creating financial barriers to accessing education.

Habitual Residence Condition: The HRC requirement poses significant obstacles for returning families seeking access to social supports, with applicants required to prove their "main center of interest" is now in Ireland.

Professional Qualification Recognition: Particular concern was raised regarding Irish-born teachers working in the Middle East and Irish nurses and medical workers in Australia who face lengthy delays getting their overseas qualifications recognized upon return.

Rural Planning Permission: Sons and daughters attempting to build homes on family land in rural Ireland after returning from abroad face particular difficulties navigating the planning permission process.